“from cradle to grave”

“From Cradle to Grave”Firearm Asset Control for the AFPFrom Introduction into Service to Disposal & Destruction

Presented by: Federal Agent Paul McFawnAFP Firearms Registrar

ARF Stockpile Management Workshop, Bangkok, Thailand 12-14 October 2006

AFP Firearm Asset ControlAFP Forensic Services

Governance Controls – Legislation

• Australian Government – Financial Management Act and related legislation.

• AFP Act 1979 – set up of the AFP

• Commissioner’s Orders

– CO3 Use of Force – covers firearm issue, training, use, transport & security, etc.

– CO4 – Finance –covers funding, purchasing, equipment & assets

• AFP Guidelines:

– Receipt & Issue of Firearms


Purchasing - “The Cradle”

•Purchase Order Issued

– AFP nominates serial numbers for the firearms, or obtains the serial numbers from the manufacturer prior to shipment to Australia

–When the Purchase Order is raised the firearm serial numbers are entered on the AFP asset database (AFP use SAP - commercial off the shelf software)

•Asset is not active at this stage• Export

– Most Countries require Export, and End Use Certificates to be issued before firearm or ammunition (Munitions) can be exported


• Import

– Import needs approval by Australian Federal Government Minister – issue of Ministerial Import Certificate (requires serial numbers to be listed)

– When shipment arrives at an airport the firearms are checked by Customs Officers and compared to the Ministerial Import Certificate – Independent check and audit by another agency

– Shipment is delivered to the AFP after Customs have cleared to goods for entry into Australia


AFP Receipt & Check

• After receipt AFP Armoury staff check the firearms to ensure that the shipment is correct –

– Make, Model and number received

– Check of Serial Numbers against AFP Purchase Order and Import Certificate.

– This is done by to at least two armourers who sign for the shipment and certify that the goods have been received.

– Assets registrar then activates the assets for the firearms received – now an accountable active AFP asset.


Issue & Receipt to AFP Officers

• Issue & Receipt of Firearms Asset is controlled under the AFP CO3 and Guidelines – Documented Procedures

– CO3 is issued under the authority of the Commissioner and must be complied with

– The Guideline is issued under the authority of the AFP Firearms Registrar and must be followed by any area in the AFP that is responsible for the issue and storage of AFP Official Issue Firearms

– Two systems used to record transactions for AFP firearms, issue, return, transfer, servicing and storage.

1. Computerised Asset Database (SAP system for AFP)

2. Manual hard copy paper based issue record

• Both are cross checked to each other.


Firearms Being Issued


Firearms Issue Requirements

• All official issue firearms are owned by the AFP

• AFP Officers are not allowed to carry or use privately owned firearms

• When an officer retires, or resigns from the AFP any firearms issued to them must be returned to the Armoury

• To carry and use official firearms all AFP officers are required to undergo training and re-qualification on a regular basis.

• All AFP officers must to hold the firearms use qualification even if their duties do not require them to be issued with a firearm

• If an officer looses the firearms qualification they can not be issued with a firearm, or they must return any firearms issued to them to the Armoury – This is condition of employment


Audit & Stocktakes

• AFP Audit Procedures require that regular audit and stocktakes of firearms are carried out

– 100% annual stocktake of all firearm assets across the AFP. This is a visual sighting using two staff - one armourer and one asset registrar from different areas– Independent oversight check and accountability

– 25% random stocktake of firearms assets across the AFP once every 3 months (quarterly stock checks) – again using two staff

– For the Main Armoury a requirement for a full 100% stocktake every 3 months – once each quarter. This is because of the quantity of firearms stored and issued on a regular basis. Use two staff to certify correct


Audit Reporting

• Firearms and related munitions are viewed as very sensitive assets - despite their generally low value of $500.00 each for a handgun

• If they are lost or stolen it could cause great embarrassment to the AFP.

• Results of all stocktakes are reported to the Firearm Registrar, Chief Financial Officer and AFP Senior Executive Management Team

• If a firearm asset cannot be sighted the matter is report to AFP Professional Standards for a full investigation and report

• If a firearms is lost or stolen the matter is referred to AFP Professional Standards


Examples of Firearms – What should be noted in an audit


Glock - Left Side View


Smith & Wesson Revolver - Left Side View


S&W Revolver – Serial Number Locations


Remington Model 870P Shotgun


Remington Shotgun – Location of Serial Numbers


Disposal & Destruction – “The Grave”• Equipment assets in the AFP have a set life of service

– Most firearm assets have a service life set at 10yrs from the date of introduction

– This period can be extended if required

– During its issue life a firearm will be serviced, and inspected, a considerable number of times

• If a firearm asset has reached End of Service Life, or found to be unserviceable during an inspection, it will be listed for disposal and destruction action. The AFP does NOT dispose of firearms by sale - they are destroyed

– Firearms for disposal & destruction are listed on a Board of Inspection Report

• The BOI is compiled by two armourers and certified by the Armoury Team Leader

• The BOI is then authorised by a National Manager – Management oversight to approved the destruction of an asset

• The listed firearms are then destroyed by two staff and the destruction is witnessed – BOI is signed by destruction officers and witnessed


Destruction Method

• The firearms are crushed in a hydraulic press


• The crushed firearms are then sent to a metal reprocessing plant and melted down in a furnace – This is witnessed by AFP staff and certified.

• The BOI form is then signed and certified that the listed equipment has been destroyed. The completed BOI form is then sent to the Asset Registrar to update the SAP Asset Database

– Destroyed assets are listed as retired – Not an active asset and not accountable – but the record for each is retained on the SAP Asset system. The record can be checked and reported on


The End

Any Questions?

Thank you

“from cradle to grave”

Documents

afp act

afp co3

official firearms

firearms qualification

afp purchase order

accountable active afp

firearm issue

issue recordboth